Lubrication system



Nov.' 23, 1943. c. aMALoNE 2,334,942

` LUBRICATION SYSTEM Filed. June 20, 1941 f FIGA,l

FIGB.

A ORNEY5 yPatented Nov. 23., 1943 LUBRICATION SYSTEM charlesr n'Malonepstamford, conn., signor t0 Hopewood Manufacturing Company, Springdale, Conn.,n partnership consisting oi' Charles B. Malone and Helen S. Malone Application June 20, 1941, Serial No1 398,875

Y s claims.' y (ci. isi-,7)

This invention relates to lubrication systems and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for developing and conveying a mist of liquid lubricant to machines employing anti-friction bearings and other lubricatable parts.

Anti-fritcion bearings, such as the ball and roller types, are usually employed to support shafts and spindles where efficient and/or high speed operations are required. The lubrication of such bearings presents certain problems. The amount of oil fed to such a bearing, for example, is usually difficult to control; too much oil will cause the bearing to run hot and too little may cause the bearing to burn out. This problem of controlling the feed Iof lubricant is rendered even more diicult when a machine or gang of machines employs a large number of such bearings. Then again, dust and grit, if allowed to work into an anti-friction bearing, will reduce the eflciency.-

and life of the bearing. This latter problem is of particular concern in the operation of grinding machines and the like where dust and fine Darticles of metal or 'other substances are contained in the air and/o1` grinding solution surroundl ing the machine.

One of the objects and features of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a method of and apparatus for developing and feeding a stream of air or other suitable gas laden with finely divided particles of a liquid lubricant to anti-friction bearings and the like.

Another feature of the invention is 4to provide 1 an economical method of and apparatus for developing a' mist of a liquid lubricant at a central point and conveying the mist to a plurality of lubrication points. y

Still another feature of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for developing I and forcing a mist of oil or other liquid lubricant into an anti-friction or other type of bearing in a manner to maintain the bearing supplied with lubricant and to maintain it cool and free from dirt and grit.

'I'he above and additional objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of-thefollowing detailed description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a lubrication apparatus by which the method of the present invention can be practiced;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a ball bearing provided with a form of connection through which a lubricating mist can be supplied 58 tween the inner and outer races and flows axially inaccordance with-the principles of the invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a. grinding spindle provided with a form of connection through which the lubricant mist can be delivered to the bearings, thereof; and

Figure ll'is a view partly in section of a typical form of bleeder valve construction suitable for use for maintaining a pressure differential in the lubrication system.

Referring to Figure 1 of Athe drawing, a form of lubricating apparatus isv illustrated schematically by which the method of the present invention can be carried out. 'I'he system comprises a tank I0 adaptedv to contain a body of a liquid lubricant I2, such as oil, the amount of which is indicated by a gauge I4. `lil perforated pipe or other suitably shaped member I8 is located adjacent the bottom of the tank through which a gas, such as air, is forced for passagev through the oil I2 to develop above the level of the oil an oil the tank I0 substantially constant. To insure.

the gas being clean, the supply line 26 1s provided with a lter 28.

The oil mist I8 is delivered from the tank I0 to a plurality of lubricating points through a manifold 30 having a plurality of connections 32.

Each of the connections 32 is provided with a hand valve 34 to control the amount oi' oil mist delivered to the lubricating point with which the connection is associated.

The lubrication System illustrated in Figure 1 is shown to be associated With-a number of machines having rotating machine elements requiring lubrication, such as, for example, the grinding devices 36, 3l and 38. Each grinding device is provided with a bearing support 40 which, as shown fragmentarily in Figure 2, may comprise a housing 4I for a ball bearing which comprises outer and inner races 42 and 44, ball cages 48 and 48, and a plurality of balls 50. The shaft or spindle 52 of the grinder is supported by the inner race 44.

50. The oil laden air introduced through thel coupling 54 spreads as it enters the space bethereof about the balls 60. 'Ihe finely divided particles of oil entrained by the air are deposited f on the surfaces of the races, balls and other parts of the bearing. 'I'he ilow of air axially between the inner and outer races expels dust and dirt therefrom and prevents the infiltration thereto of fine particles of metal or other substance liberated by the grinding or other machine operations. The amount'of oil laden air and the force of the flow thereof to and through the bearing may be determined by the-setting of the regulat-y ing valve 24 and of the hand valve 34. While the ball bearing illustrated in Figure 2; is of the double-row type, it will be understood that it is parts as well.

In order to maintain apressure differential between the supply tank l and the points to be lubricated so as to insure a continuous flow of the air borne oil, the manifold 30 may be provided with a return by-pass connection 56. This bypass 65 may be connected to the supply line 26 between the pressure regulator 24 and the tank' i0, or the return may be connected to the tank independently of the supply line either below or -above the level oi the body of lubricant. A

booster pump 56 is employed to return the mist to the supply pipe I6. the return connection 65 andthe booster 56 may be replaced with a suitable bleeder valve providing for `the necessary pressuredifferential as when .several of the valves 34 are closed or nearly so. f

Y The bleeder valve may be any desired type of loaded valve. As shown in Figure 4, the bleeder valve may include 'a valve 80 that is normally urged into a. valve seat 8l in a casing 82 by means of a spring 83. The casing 82 is secured to ythe end of the manifold 30. 'The valve 80 is displaced from the seat 8I- to permit air to escape when the back pressure in the manifold 3A0 increases. The function of the valve is to maintain a sumclentlyrapid flow of air through thev manifold and through the tank to form the mist and to entrain and carry the oil as mist to the bearings. Thus, when one or more of the valves 34 is closed, the valve tends to open because of the pressure of the gas thereon and compensates for the diminished flow of air through the bearings.

Referring to Figure 3, a modified form` of grinding spindle is shown to illustrate another form of connection through which'the oil mist canbe delivered into the bearing. The grinder spindle illustrated includes a spindle holder base 60 in which is mounted a generally cylindrical spindlev housing 6l having enlarged cavities 62 and 63 for receiving the pairs of ball bearings 6K4, 64a and 65 and 65a. The bearings of each pair are maintained in spaced apart relationship by means of annular spacer sleeves 66 and the pairs of bearings are moreover retained in spaced relal tionship by means of a spacer sleeve -61 engaging the inner races of the bearings 64a and 65.

The grinder spindle 68 is mounted n the inner races of the ball bearings 64, 64a, 65 and 65a and head 'i0 which engages the inner race of the` .bearing 66a and carries the adaptor 1I for receiving various types of grinding stones 12.

In some instances, however, v

The inner ends of the pulley 69 and the enlarged head 10 are provided with stepped portions 69a and 10a, respectively, which cooperate with complementally stepped covers 13 and 14, respectively, fastened to the ends of the spindle 4housing 6l to form a labyrinth which tends to prevent metal particles and dirt from entering the bearings.

The spindle holder' base 6l is provided with a chamber 16 having a coupling 16 thereon which ris connected to the manifold 30. The chamber v16 is in communication with a pair of conduits 11 and 18 in the spindle housing 6| which extend from the outer surface of the housing 6I to adjacent the bearings 64a and 65.

With this construction the oil mist may be fed to the innerbearings 64a and 65, by the gaseous now-to the outer bearings 64 and 65a, and outward to the atmosphere through the labyrinths 20 at the ends of the Spindle 68. The gas tends to blow dirt and grindings and the grinding solution away from the bearings, thereby keeping them clean and prolonging their operating lives. While I prefer to form the lubricating mist at room temperatures, it may, in some cases, be desirableto use the lubricant as a coolant. In this casejthe body of lubricant l2, may be chilled by means of a cooling coil 16 disposed in the tank I0 or by suitable refrigerating jackets on the tank I0 or manifold 30.

While my method of developing and conveying lubricant in the form of a mist to a -plurality of lubricating lpoints will be apparent from the foregoing description, the method may be summarized briefly as follows: Air or other gas is rst filtered and bubbled at' apredetermined pressure through a. body of the.- lubricant. The bubbles passing through the lubricant entrain finely di-` vided particies of the lubricant to form a mist. The mist thus formed is conveyed adjacent a plurality of lubricating points where a part or all of the mist can be diverted for passage into a bearing or other machine part. The inner sur-l faces of the bearing are adequately lubricated by the nely divided particles of lubricant and at the same time are maintained cool and clean of dirt and grit by the flow of air through the bearing. This method is of particular advantage where a large number of bearings or other lubrieating points require a relatively small continuous supply of lubricant and where dust and dirt are apt to filter into the machine parts.

While I have shown and described but one form of apparatus and two'different forms of bearing connections with which my method may be practiced, 'I recognize that many variations in both the apparatus and the method are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the method and apparatus 'shown and described are to be regarded as illustrative of the invention only and not in restriction thereof.

I claim: l. A lubrication system comprising means to develop a mist of liquid lubricant, a manifold including a plurality of connections through which said mist can be delivered to a plurality of lubricating points, means to control the flow through each of said connections and means communicating with said manifold beyond said connections for maintaining a continuous ow of `said mist through said manifold.

2'. A lubrication system comprising 'a manifold, means to develop and maintain a supply of lubricant mist for delivery through said manifold,

a return connection from said manifold to said oil mist, a manifoldcfor receiving said oil mist,

a conduit connected to said manifold to convey the oil mist from said manifold to a lubricating point and means communicating with said mani-I fold at a point beyond said conduit in the direci tion of flow of said mist for maintaining a con stant liow of said mist through said manifold. l, 4. A lubrication system comprising a tank adapted to contain a body of oil, means to introduce air into the tank at a predetermined pressure for passage through said body of oi]` to develop an oil mist, means to convey the oil mist to a lubricating point, and a return connection including a pump to maintain a continuous flow of oil mist through the conveying means. 1 5. A lubrication system comprising means for developing a mist of liquid lubricant and entraining said mist in a gas under pressure, a manifold including a plurality of connections through which said'mist can be delivered with said gas to a 'plurality of lubricating points,

5 means to control the ilow through each of said connections, and a bleederv valve in said mani fold beyond said coxnections for` maintaining a substantially 'uniform differential between the Vpressure of the gas in said manifold and the pres- IO sure at said lubricating points to maintain a uniform flow of gas and mist through said lubricating points.

6. A lubrication system comprising means to develop and entrain a mist of liquid lubricant l5 in agas under pressure, a manifold for receiving said 4gas and entrained mist and' conveying themto a plurality of bearings through which saisi gas can escape to create a differential between the pressure of said gas in said manifold 20 and the pressure at said bearings, means for controlling the ow of gas from said manifold to each of said bearings, and means connected to said manifold for maintaining said pressure differential substantially constant regardless of' 25 variations in the iiow of gas through said bearings to assure a substantially uniform -flow of gas-borne lubricant through said manifold.

CHARLES B. MALONE. 

